Calendar for April 19

E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.

Childhood Memories. Works by artists inspired by their childhoods. Memories are endless: an experience, a trip, a gathering, an animal, a poem, a person or a place that brings one back to a childhood memory. Show exhibits April 6-29; Open Thursday-Sunday. Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-838-4827. www.TheDelRayArtisans.org

Rhino Wars. 6:30 p.m. Alexandria resident and National Geographic staff writer Peter Gwin will speak at The Potomack Company about his book "Rhino Wars: The Violent Underworld of Black Market Medicine" in conjunction

with Potomack's auction of a collection of wild game hunting trophies with proceeds going to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. At The Potomack Company Auctions & Appraisals, 526 North Fayette St., Alexandria. Visit www.potomackcompany.com.

Beverley Hills Garden Club Meeting. 10 a.m. to noon. Presentation by Dr. Robert E. Lyons on "Ornamental Plant Choices for the Cultivated Landscape." Lyons is a professor of Landscape Horticulture and Director of the Longwood Graduate Program at the University of Delaware/Longwood Gardens. He will discuss breeding breakthroughs, solid garden standards and plants with untapped potential. Meetings are held in the Fellowship Hall of Westminster Presbyterian Church,†2701 Cameron Mills Rd, Alexandria.†Contact Amy Reed at ahreed703@yahoo.com†or 703 837-8861. †

Silver Restoration. 12 noon to 5 p.m. Melissa Kenis, a silver restoration expert, will be at Silverman Galleries, Antiques and Antique Jewelry, 101 North St. Asaph St., Old Town Alexandria. She will give recommendations and estimates on repairing and refinishing sterling heirlooms.

Pollen as a Window Into the Past. 7:30 p.m. How Ecologists Use Pollen to Reconstruct Past Vegetation. Dr. Emily Southgate will illustrate how paleoecologists use the unique characteristics of pollen preserved in

Third Friday with the Mount Vernon Swing Band. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Owen Hammett will conduct the live band. Light refreshments will be provided by Mount Vernon 4H Clubs. $4 at the door. Open to the Community. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Call 703-765-4573.

April 20 to May 5

"Someone Who'll Watch Over Me." Tickets are $18/adults; $16/military, seniors and students; $14/groups of 10. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays, April 20 to May 5, plus Tuesday, May 1. In addition, there will be matinees on Saturday, April 24 and May 5, starting at 2 p.m. At the LAT at Convergence, 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria.

April 20 and 21

"Ghost Light:" A Comedy with Spirits. 7 p.m. At the George Washington Middle School Auditorium, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. All tickets are $5 and available at the door. Contact Robert McDonough at robert.mcdonough@acps.k12.va.us

Colin Hay in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call the Birchmere at 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Saturday/April 21

MVPC Preschool Spring Festival and Silent Auction. Noon to 4 p.m. bid on many items donated from local businesses and families. Rocknoceros will be playing from 1 to 2 p.m. Buy tickets for $10 in the preschool office or online at http://mvpcrocknoceros2012.eventbrite.com. At 2001 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. Call 703-765-6118.

See Raptors Up Close. 10 a.m.-noon. For Earth Day, at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, at the Belle Haven Picnic area, off George Washington Memorial Parkway in the Mt. Vernon area of Fairfax County. Sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the National Park Service, and the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia. The Raptor Conservancy will bring live raptors for close-up encounters. Meet at the Belle Haven picnic area near the bike path. Visit www.fodm.org, or call the National Park Service Information Line at 202-619-7222.

Global Youth Service Day. Children and youth will address critical issues in their communities. More than a dozen nonprofits are offering projects throughout Fairfax County. Locally, more than 700 youth and families are expected to give back to the local community. To view a project near you, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.

Chalk Walk. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Mount Vernon High School Football Stadium. Run or walk around the track and school for exercise and honor your favorite teacher at the same time. The $5 registration fee includes a Chalk Walk T-Shirt. Contact Ms. Card (703-619-3120 or bmcard@fcps.edu).

Author Event. 2 to 4 p.m. Local author Tansil Johnson will sign and discuss her new books, Who Is Mooma? And Mooma and the Mouse. At Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria.

Bike Collection. 9 a.m. to noon. Trinity United Methodist Church will be collecting gently used bicycles (and parts) for Bikes for the World (B4W). At 2911 Cameron Mills Road, Alexandria. B4W ships bikes to many countries, thus helping poor people overseas become more productive through providing affordable bicycles for personal transport to work, school, and health services. Visit Trinity UMC: http://trinityalexandria.org or visit Bikes for the World: http://b4w.org

Spring Mulch Sale. $5/bag - 3 cubic feet, double shredded hardwood bark mulch. Orders of 10 bags or more will be delivered to select ZIP codes. For more information or to order, send a note to mvhsmulchsale2012@gmail.com or call 571-214-4348. Proceeds will support the senior class All Night Grad Party.

Garden Day Herb & Craft Sale. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Friends of Carlyle House. An exciting mix of herbs and vegetable plants from Mount Vernon and Layng & Company will be available for purchase. Bring your family and participate in child-friendly activities, listen to performances by area musicians and living historians throughout the day, as well as shop for items made by local artisans and crafters. This event is free, however admission for the House tour is $5 for adults; $3 for children 5-12 years old; free for children 4 & under or free with your Alexandria Garden Day ticket. This event will take place rain or shine. Carlyle House Historic Park is at 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria.

Project Discovery-Alexandria's 16th Annual 3K Walkathon. 8 a.m. Registration. 3K Walk at 9:30 a.m. $20/adults; $5/students; $500/corporate sponsors. The program serves T.C. Williams High School students with limited financial resources and/or who will be the fist in their family to go to college. Proceeds help pay for program activities such as visits to colleges and workshops dealing with such topics as the college and financial aid application process, goal setting and personal development. At Fort Ward Park, 4301 Braddock Road, Alexandria. Call 703-746-5970. Donations may be made to www.alexandriava.gov. Register online at alexandriava.gov/PDWalkathon or call 703-746-5970.

Lecture on Archaeology of the Lee-Fendall House Garden. 2 p.m. Admission is $5. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Alexandria Archaeology (FOAA). At Lee-Fendall House Museum, 614 Oronco St., Alexandria. Call 703-548-1789.

'Off the Mat' Workshop. 4 to 7 p.m. 532Yoga — live life more fully! $45 if pre-registered. Book the series of 3 Off The Mat workshops and save! At 532 N. Washington St., Suite 100, Alexandria. Visit www.532Yoga.com or suzanne@532Yoga.com or 703-209-0049.

Out of Africa Auction. Featuring animals preserved by taxidermist James L. Clark in the Howard Sykes safari collection. At the Potomack Company Auctions & Appraisals, 526 North Fayette Street in Old Town Alexandria. Call 703-684-4550 or visit www.potomackcompany.com.

Sunday/April 22

Gardens and Graveyards. 4 p.m. Poetry from the Meeting House featuring the poetry of Alexandria's first poet laureate, Jean Elliot. Also reading will be the two other City of Alexandria poets laureate: Amy Young (2010-present) and Mary McElveen (2007-2010) as well as other poets and friends of the Meeting House. At the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 323 S. Fairfax St., Alexandria. Contact Mary McElveen at maryjcmce@yahoo.com or 703-299-1719.

Film Screening. 6:15 p.m. "Love Free or Die: How the Bishop of New Hampshire is Changing the World." At Christ Church Auditorium, 118 North Washington St., Alexandria. Questions/RSVP: mcapers@rocketmail.com

Earth Force Fundraiser. As part of its 2012 Earth Day celebration, Ten Thousand Villages in Old Town Alexandria will donate 15 percent of the sales to Earth Force, a national nonprofit dedicated to engaging youth as active citizens in their communities and their environment. The fundraiser will benefit the local work the organization does in Alexandria and Arlington.

Author Judith Viorst. 4 to 6 p.m. Free. Will speak on "Life Lessons from Under Eight Until Unexpectedly Eighty." At Beth El Hebrew Congregation, 3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Registration is required by April 21 by signing up at events@athomeinalexandria.org or calling the AHA! office at 703-231-0824. Visit www.athomeinalexandria.org.

Earth Day Plant Swap. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Assess your garden or your houseplants and dig up those “extra” plants, move them into pots or plastic bags, then transport then over to Hollin Hall Senior Center! New gardeners may arrive empty handed and willing to take some plants off your hands! Others may arrive with plants galore and willingly exchange some for others. At 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Call 703-765-4573.

“Is Alexandria Going to the Dogs? The Importance of Animals in Local Living” with Paul Haire, Your Dog’s Best Friend; Dr. Lisa Marisco, Del Ray Animal Hospital; Randy Plante, author of “My Wingman Oliver”; and Tykie Tobin, Animal Welfare League (the Shelter) at the Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue. Reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner (members with reservations by April 17: $28; with reservations after deadline: $33; without reservations: $38/non-members with reservations by April 17: $33; after deadline: $38; without reservations: $43) at 6:45; program ($5 non-members) 7:15. Dinner reservations required. For information or reservations, contact Sherry Brown, 703-548-7089 or agendaalexandria@aol.com.

Niche — Jane Franklin Dance. 7 p.m. Free. A "Mapped" performance. The event begins near the Union Street entrance. In this location, one dance is performed, "Compartment." Then everyone gets a map to locate the other dances; small solos for hidden spaces. This large pillar on the third floor is the concluding location for the final dance, "Header." At The Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St., Alexandria. Call 703-933-1111 or visit www.janefranklin.com.

Author Andrew Wingfield. 7 p.m. Come and hear local author Andrew Wingfield speak about his book Right of Way: Stories, winner of the Washington Writers Publishing House 2010 fiction prize. At the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-1702 or www.alexandria.lib.va.us

April 25 to April 29

"Seussical the Musical." Performed by West Potomac High School theater department. Tickets are $12/door. Performances are April 25 at 5 p.m.; April 26, 27, 28 at 7:30 p.m.; April 29 at 2:30 p.m. At West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road, Alexandria.

Thursday/April 26

Does Mom Need to Move? 7 to 8:30 p.m. The seminar is part of its free Spring 2012 Seminars for Family Caregivers series. At Martha Washington Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Register online (go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices and link to caregiver series), email caregiver@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 703-324-5205, TTY 711.

Friday/April 27

Music of "Harry Potter" Films. 7:30 p.m. The Symphony Orchestra of Arlington will perform the music of Harry Potter from eight films. Pre-concert activities at 6 p.m. At the George Washington Masonic Memorial Theater, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria. Visit www.symphonyorchestraofarlington.com

Brahms for Violin and Piano. 8 p.m. Free. At The Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. Call The United States Air Force Band's Concert Line at 202-767-5658 or visit our homepage: www.usafband.af.mil.

Civil War Balloon Corps. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about Alexandria's history and the Civil War Balloon Corps in a living history program held at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. In 1861, a civilian Balloon Corps attached to the U.S. Army was organized to gather information on Confederate positions and movements from the sky. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road. Visit www.fortward.org, or call 703-746-4848.

Make a House Storybook. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Local artist and writer Sushmita Mazumdar will show how she makes books that are houses for all kinds of creatures and all kinds of stories. Then kids will learn how to make their own “House Storybook” of a special place. For children ages 6 to 12. Cost is $15/family and includes materials. Register at 703-746-4356. At the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria.

"Swan Lake." Sponsored by the Virginia Ballet Company. Performances are Saturday, April 28 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m. The production includes all four acts, fully staged and costumed, and the score by Tchaikovsky. Dancers Christine Gilmore and Eleni Thomas will alternate in the role of Odette/Odile. Performances will take place in the Ernst Cultural Center Theater at NVCC Annandale Campus. Tickets are available on-line at www.virginiaballetcompany.org or at the box office.

Carpenter's Shelter Cook-Off and Run. 8 a.m. on Saturday is the Run for Shelter 10K and One-Mile Fun Run. Registration for Run for Shelter 10K is $40; Fun Run is $20. To register, visit www.runforshelter10k.com. All proceeds benefit Carpenter’s Shelter and its work on behalf of homeless individuals, children, and families. The 10th Anniversary Cook-Off Celebration will be held on Sunday, April 29, from noon to 3 p.m., at The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Featuring 30 of the area’s best restaurants offering samples of their food, plus a live auction offering attendees the chance to bid on trips, tickets, meals and more. Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Visit www.carpenterscookoff.com.

April 29

Duncan Sheik with Suzanne Vega. Performing songs from his latest album covers 80s, theater works and early catalogue. At The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-7500 or visit www.birchmere.com; for tickets, please call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or order online at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Morrison House Presents. 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission. Author F. Lennox Campello discusses his controversial book, 100 Artists of Washington, D.C., and provides insights into the selection process, the publication of the book and the subsequent eruption of controversy in the Greater DC area art scene. At Morrison House, 116 South Alfred St., Alexandria. Visit www.morrisonhouse.com or call 703-838-8000.

Volunteer for Community Service Day. Event Combines Community Service, Fundraising-and Fun. Volunteers are needed to help in community service projects throughout Alexandria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Event information: http://springforalexandria2012.kintera.org

Saturday/May 5

Bowties & Belles, a Kentucky Derby Party. 4 to 7:30 p.m. Features an afternoon of watching the Derby, a raffle, silent auction, cocktail reception. Sponsored by the Junior Friends of The Campagna Center. Proceeds help support programs of The Campagna Center. At Collingwood on the Potomac, 8301 East Boulevard Dr., Alexandria. Visit www.CampagnaCenter.org.

Monday/May 7

Children and Trauma. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Free. Featuring guest speaker Margaret Dowell who will discuss the connection between trauma and behavior. At The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. Call 703-746-3579 or email latanya.wooten@alexandriava.gov.

"This Old House." 10 a.m. Watch episode 2 of "This Old House" that was filmed in Alexandria. General contractor Tom Silva heads to Alexandria to restore the windows in a home built by George Washington. Afterward, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a water filter at a kitchen sink. Airing on WETA-TV 26 and WETA HD.

Garden of Light Reception. 3 to 5 p.m. Help put an end to domestic violence by attending the Bethany House reception. Tickets are $55/person. At the Holiday Inn and Suites, 625 First Street, Alexandria. Visit www.bhnv.org or call 703-658-9500.

American Balalaika Symphony Spring Concert. 8 p.m. Tickets are $20/advance; $25/door. Peter Trofimenko and The American Balalaika Symphony welcome Spring with How a Peasant Went to a Fair — An ordinary tale told through extraordinary music. Travel back in time to a place where the pace was slow, the pleasures simple, and spring, a time of wonder and delight. With works by Andreyev, Tsygankov, Shalov, Gorodovskaya, Kachalin and more. Featuring ABS balalaika soloist Ekaterina Borodulina. At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center,

BBQ Fundraising Dinner. 4:30 to 6 p.m. Admission is $10. The Women's Auxiliary of the Salvation Army Alexandria is hosting its BBQ Fundraising Dinner. Dinner is sponsored by RockLands Real Barbeque. Show Military ID at the door and receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through Auxiliary Members or calling TSA at 703-836-2427. Event is held at The Salvation Army Citadel Corps, 1804 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria.

Symposium on Historic Clothing. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Historic Pohick Church Docents Guild is sponsoring a "Symposium on Historic Clothing at Historic Pohick Church" covering the 18th and early 19th centuries. Speakers for this event are costume historians Mary Doering, Colleen Callahan, and Newbie Richardson. Tickets are $75 ($65 for students), which includes lunch and a tour of the church. Deadline for registration is April 27, and space is limited. For ticket information contact Charlotte Knipling at 703-339-8196 or c.knipling@gmail.com.

Explore Alexandria's Firefighting History. 1 p.m. Tickets are $6/adults; $4/youth. The walking tour, "Blazing a Trail: Alexandria's Firefighting Past." As they walk through Old Town, participants will learn about volunteer firefighting in early Alexandria and stop at historic buildings that once served as fire stations. At Friendship Firehouse, 107 South Alfred St., Old Town Alexandria. Visit www.friendshipfirehouse.net or by calling 703-746-4994.

Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. John Philip Colletta will present, "Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events." This lecture demonstrates how to turn biographical facts into the real-life experiences they were; how to gather together and evaluate evidence about a particular event, including its historical context, to “individualize” every ancestor in your family tree. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, in Alexandria. Contact Phyllis Kelley at 703-660-6969 or publicity@mvgenealogy.org.

Thursday/May 17

Clifton Charity Homes Tour. 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Featuring homes in and surrounding Clifton. Tickets are $25/advance; $30/day of tour; single home admission is $10. Presented by the Clifton Community Woman's Club. A "Wine Down" will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Paradise Spring Winery. Lunch will be available at Clifton eateries; the Paradise Springs Winery will also be offering box lunches with a prior RSVP. Visit the CCWC website: www.cliftoncwc.org

Saturday/May 19

School Desegregation History Project. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Event will collect stories, history of African-American struggles for education at workshops. At Charles Houston Recreation Center, 905 Wythe St., Alexandria.

Mount Vernon Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. Free. John Philip Colletta will present "Turning Biographical Facts into Real Life Events. At Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria. Information about the meeting, the Research Center and MVGS can be found at http://www.MVGenealogy.org. Call Phyllis Kelley at 703-660-6969 or publicity@mvgenealogy.org.

Wednesday/May 22

Boating Safety Courses. An eight-week comprehensive safety course which includes basic piloting and navigation. Three classes will be held at various locations in Northern Virginia beginning on May 22, July 24 and Sept. 25. Fee is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Contact Sean Gallagher at education@NVSPS.org or 703-625-1500.

College of Running and Pre-Race Expo. 12 noon to 6 p.m., at Westin Hotel, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria. Free to the public. Visit exhibits by Alexandria organizations and others. Listen to guest speakers. Sign up for Alexandria Running Festival the next day. See www.mc-coop.org/arf or call 703-927-4833.

Contribute to Time Capsule. Youth up to age 18 are invited to submit an essay or art work representing the present day library. Submit on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Entries should be submitted at Martha Washington Library, 6614 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria. Entries will be placed in the time capsule to be opened in 50 years. Deadline to enter is June 1. Call 703-768-9840.

June 2

Volunteer Training. Curious about early American medicine and health? Then consider volunteering as a tour guide at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary in historic Old Town Alexandria. The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, at 105-107 South Fairfax Street, is hosting a new volunteer training June 2 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This three-hour class includes a tour and the basics of giving museum tours. Pre-registration is required. Volunteers can complete an application online through www.apothecarymuseum.org or email Michele.longo@alexandriava.gov. Visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703-746-3852.